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FY Institute of Technology (Singapore)

3 More Tips for Learning a Foreign Language

In the previous article, we touched upon a few basic tips for learning a foreign language. Now that you know the basics and perhaps already booked your training room rentals for the next session of language training, here are some advanced tips on how to go about learning a foreign language.

1. Learn the most common words first

There is the interesting Pareto principle which states that about 20 percent of the efforts you spend on picking new words will eventually help in almost 80 percent understanding of the language. For instance, in English, about 300 words make 65 percent of the complete written material! Some words are generally used a lot and then there are others that we use infrequently or sometimes, never. Picking the right words and creating flashcards to pick them up fast is a great way to enhance your learning.

2. Converse regularly

There is no easier way to pick up a language than to converse regularly. And the internet comes to the rescue here. Schedule video chats on Skype or any other video calling application and seek conversational lessons with a native speaker. Start with basic exchange of pleasantries and move to more complex forms of communication. This will help improve your speaking skills and overall understanding of the language.

3. Practice consistently

If you are serious about picking up a language, consistency is the key. Simply attending a training course for a few days and winning a certificate is not going to help. For instance, if you want to learn Chinese, just signing up for a course would not be enough. You need to continue reading, writing and speaking in Chinese even after you complete the course. You can keep your knowledge refreshed by scheduling training sessions online, taking part in quizzes, referring to reading material and so on.

Learning a foreign language with the required fluency is never easy. You require perseverance and consistent hard work. Make sure you adopt a planned approach to learning.

About FY Institute of Technology (Singapore)

FY Institute of Technology (Singapore) offers academic programmes ranging from Certificate to Higher Diploma Courses in Engineering, Business Management, Accountancy and IT with pathways to Bachelor Degree Programmes. Classes are small for more effective teaching and learning, and students are provided with more support and attention.

The degree programmes offered are from Edge Hill University (UK) which was awarded University of the Year 2014/15 by Times Higher Education UK. The university lecturers come to FYIT to meet the students each year to ensure academic standards are maintained. The university qualifies our local teaching staff to teach their programme, evaluate student assessments, review student work and determines student results.